Kent Stermon was appointed the the Florida Board of Governors by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a man he helped elect and to whom he donated generously. Stermon was an influential GOP donor and active in politics without running for office. In December, 2022, he killed himself. It was rumored that it was due to an investigation of sexual misconduct.
It was not long after that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had an open case they were investigating that suggested he may have engaged in sexual misconduct of some kind with a minor. He is alleged to have offered her Taylor Swift tickets in an exchange for a picture of her breasts and asked to see them in person. It was said that this case could be the rope that unravels more. He left a note to his sister and a friend that said he loved them too much to put them through this.
A report from the Florida State Attorney released a report in September 2023 revealing that they would have charged Stermon with multiple crimes, including solicitation for prostitution, false imprisonment and multiple fraud charges for pretending to be providing security for Taylor Swift’s tour. He forced the woman to reveal her breasts for 30 minutes in his office which is why the false imprisonment charge.
- First Coast News: Reports, photos released in death of major GOP donor Kent Stermon in Jacksonville
- Florida Politics: New allegations emerge about Ron DeSantis’ confidant Kent Stermon’s problems before his death
- The Florida Times-Union: Prominent GOP donor, now dead, accused of using Taylor Swift tickets to coerce young woman
Naples, Florida · Tuesday, December 13, 2022